Students who want to play difficult pieces

[Bob]

What do you do about a students who wants to play a piece that is beyond their abilities?

[quantum]

I was there before - as the student.  Well my teacher said at the time, let's work on some easier pieces to build your technique but keep one challenging piece that you want to learn and have it as a "fun" piece. 

[counterpoint]

what a wise statement:

take an easy piece to build the technique

and take the difficult piece as fun piece.

Really great, I would confirm this approach to 100 percent!

[debussy symbolism]

Greetings.

The only problem with the method is that you don't know whether the student is going to spend any time on the pieces he is supposed to be working on.

[m1469]

Greetings.

The only problem with the method is that you don't know whether the student is going to spend any time on the pieces he is supposed to be working on.

I don't really find that a problem at all, actually.  I mean, if that's how it happened.  Whatever they gain by that will be able to be carried over into anything else they do... and who knows, if they are determined enough, they may surprise everybody and actually play it well.  Or, maybe part way in they will need a break and that's fine, nothing's lost.  No matter what though, if they are motivated, practicing and commited... as well as progressing in some way (sometimes not even in the most obvious ways) than that's all I really want.

[debussy symbolism]

Yes, but what if you are practicing the piece incorrectly, letting bad technique to take place and not only not being able to actually play the piece, you will have a lot of bad habits to overcome. I know how tempting it is to spend time on a piece that one isn't quite ready for, but in that time one could be practicing pieces that will help you progress, instead of spending time on a piece with no results and possible acquired bad habits.

[m1469]

Sure. 

If a person is completely unmotivated by anything though, and they aren't playing anything at all because of it... they are not acquiring any kind of technique, not acquiring any kind of practicing habits ... and so on.

Anyway, this problem has not been so prevelent in my studio thus far.  Normally things don't go in directions that cannot be corrected.

[da jake]

Bad idea to learn technique on finishing studies (i.e., Chopin etudes, difficult Bach fugues).

Scales, Arpeggios, Bach - ala Backhaus. Then doable repertoire. Then more difficult repertoire.

It's so obvious.

[pianistimo]

yes.  but you know the moment the teacher says no - that's the first ten minutes of practice just to prove that you can sightread it at least.   i had my heart set on mussorgsky's pics at an exhibition because i wanted to prove tomyself it was possible (maybe in 10 years after talking to my teacher) - but him saying 'no' didn't stop me from practicing it.

teachers have limited control over adult students. they either go off the edge or do something with performance.  i am planning to do both.  (just kidding). 

agreed that the time it takes - takes away from the lesson time and you have to control yourself.  doing too much 'fun' doesn't get you anywhere very fast.  you have to step-wise make baby steps up to the level you want to be.  baby steps are much better - because you aren't missing anything to keep you from progressing.  if you take a flying leap - you're probably not going to play the harder piece very well.